Re: "Time for the return of the native"
- Subject: Re: [SG] "Time for the return of the native"
- From: C* P*
- Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 02:11:48 EST
Here is a brief explanation for those who wonder why the uproar:
"As a plant importer I only see one real problem with the new plan. They want
to change to a list of plants that you are able to import instead of a list
of plants you can't import. The problem with this is only the largest
importers will be able to afford to fight to get new plants added to the
list. Therefore they will be the only ones who can bring in unknown and new
material."
This is pinched from another list but is very plain and easy to understand.
There is a an enormous difference in these two kinds of lists. Those
already banned are known to seed importers, all other seed not on the
acceptable list will now also be banned. A list of what is acceptable cannot
be fair considering the vast number of genera available for trade worldwide.
That is the basis of the controversy. This applies to live plant material as
well.
As to the removal of non-native plants, this happens now in the US, think of
Florida. In Ireland a few years ago, my husband and I stood on a parking lot
and watched Irish workers use flame throwers to destroy slopes filled with
Rhododendron pontica. Being with other American tourists, some who find the
growing of Rhododendrons very difficult, all were absolutely amazed. We
wanted to know what native plant was being crowded out and the answer was
gorse. This is probably biologically important to the Irish but to an
American who has had a look at gorse it was not easy to swallow. You might
want to be very careful around gorse. It does not grow in the US on the East
Coast. It bursts into flame sometimes in warm dry weather, a plant with many
fine attributes, I am sure. Prickly stuff.
I'd best say here, I am aware of the runaway rhodie problem inthe British
Isles.
So..........removal of non-natives is a healthy enterprise. In my state we
hire college students to ride around in boats on the mountain lakes in summer
and cut all kinds of water weeds. Some of those water weeds are cattails, a
native with the constitution of a fencepost.
This is a subject that will not go away. Today, I read another post written
by a veterinarian will a zoological slant.
It just that the making of these lists and the changing of direction with no
discussion allowed the people who are affected by it is causing the many
messages we are all seeing. Where better to post messages on horticultural
issues than mail lists that serve gardeners?
Ms. Kemnitzer's posts were instructive and I have not read as articulate a
defense elsewhere though I am not in agreement with much of it.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
